Extracting geologic information from multiple offset stacks and/or angle stacks

ABSTRACT

Geologic information may be extracted from multiple offset stacks and/or angle stacks. Offset stacks and/or angle stacks may be received that represent energy that has propagated through a geologic volume of interest from energy sources to energy receivers. Attribute volumes associated with individual source-receiver offsets and/or source-receiver angles may be determined based on corresponding offset stacks and/or angle stacks. For individual offset stacks or angle stacks, corresponding sets of geologic features represented in the attribute volumes may be identified. The sets of geologic features corresponding to the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks to may be compared to determine discrepancies and/or similarities between the sets of geologic features corresponding to the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks. Stratigraphic interpretations, stratigraphic predictions, and/or other interpretations and/or predictions may be determined based on causes of the discrepancies and/or similarities.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to extracting geologic information related to ageologic volume of interest by leveraging discrepancies and/orsimilarities of corresponding geologic features included in a pluralityof offset stacks and/or angle stacks associated with the geologic volumeof interest.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Seismic data has been used to attempt to predict spatial distribution oflithology as well as stratigraphic architecture in geologic volume ofinterest using various images extracted from the seismic data.Conventional workflows include choosing a single offset stack or anglestack from among several available offset stacks and/or angle stacks andmaking interpretations using the selected offset stack or angle stack.One conventional workflow involves the use of offset stacking or anglestacking methodology. Seismic data is processed using the best estimatesof velocity information for a geologic volume of interest. Stackedvolumes comprising multi-offset or multi-angle seismic volumes aregenerated. After examination of each of these volumes, humaninterpreters commonly select the volume that they believe mostfaithfully illustrates the key geologic attributes critical to theirsubsequent analyses. Using their chosen volume, human interpreterscommonly assess patterns observed and draw geologic conclusions based ontheir analyses. Conventional workflows are limited, for example, becausesome geological attributes of interest may be shown in some generatedvolumes, but not in others.

SUMMARY

One aspect of this disclosure relates to a computer-implemented methodfor analyzing multiple offset stacks and/or angle stacks associated witha geologic volume of interest that includes geologic features. Themethod may include receiving a plurality of offset stacks and/or anglestacks that represent energy that has propagated through the geologicvolume of interest from one or more energy sources to one or more energyreceivers. An individual energy source may be physically separated froman individual energy receiver by a corresponding source-receiver offset.Each individual offset stack may be formed from corresponding sets ofseismic traces having substantially equivalent source-receiver offsets.Each individual angle stack may be formed from corresponding sets ofseismic traces having substantially equivalent source-receiver angles.The method may include determining a plurality of attribute volumesassociated with individual source-receiver offsets and/orsource-receiver angles based on corresponding offset stacks and/or anglestacks. The method may include identifying, for individual offset stacksor angle stacks, corresponding sets of geologic features represented inthe attribute volumes determined from the individual offset stacks orangle stacks. The method may include comparing the sets of geologicfeatures corresponding to the different offset stacks and/or anglestacks to determine discrepancies and/or similarities between the setsof geologic features corresponding to the different offset stacks and/orangle stacks.

Another aspect of this disclosure relates to a system configured toanalyze multiple offset stacks and/or angle stacks associated with ageologic volume of interest that includes geologic features. The systemmay include one or more processors configured to execute computerprogram modules. The computer program modules may include acommunications module, an image volume module, a feature identificationmodule, an analysis module, and/or other modules. The communicationsmodule may be configured to receive a plurality of offset stacks and/orangle stacks that represent energy that has propagated through thegeologic volume of interest from one or more energy sources to one ormore energy receivers. An individual energy source may be physicallyseparated from an individual energy receiver by a correspondingsource-receiver offset. Each individual offset stack may be formed fromcorresponding sets of seismic traces having substantially equivalentsource-receiver offsets. Each individual angle stack may be formed fromcorresponding sets of seismic traces having substantially equivalentsource-receiver angles. The image volume module may be configured todetermine a plurality of attribute volumes associated with individualsource-receiver offsets and/or source-receiver angles based oncorresponding offset stacks and/or angle stacks. The featureidentification module may be configured to identify, for individualoffset stacks and/or angle stacks, corresponding sets of geologicfeatures represented in the attribute volumes determined from theindividual offset stacks and/or angle stacks. The analysis module may beconfigured to compare the sets of geologic features corresponding to thedifferent offset stacks and/or angle stacks to determine discrepanciesand/or similarities between the sets of geologic features correspondingto the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks.

Yet another aspect of this disclosure relates to a computer-readablestorage medium having instructions embodied thereon. The instructionsmay be executable by a processor to perform a method for analyzingmultiple offset stacks and/or angle stacks associated with a geologicvolume of interest that includes geologic features. The method mayinclude receiving a plurality of offset stacks and/or angle stacks thatrepresent energy that has propagated through the geologic volume ofinterest from one or more energy sources to one or more energyreceivers. An individual energy source may be physically separated froman individual energy receiver by a corresponding source-receiver offset.Each individual offset stack may be formed from corresponding sets ofseismic traces having substantially equivalent source-receiver offsets.Each individual angle stack may be formed from corresponding sets ofseismic traces having substantially equivalent source-receiver angles.The method may include determining a plurality of attribute volumesassociated with individual source-receiver offsets and/orsource-receiver angles based on corresponding offset stacks and/or anglestacks. The method may include identifying, for individual offset stacksand/or angle stacks, corresponding sets of geologic features representedin the attribute volumes determined from the individual offset stacksand/or angle stacks. The method may include comparing the sets ofgeologic features corresponding to the different offset stacks and/orangle stacks to determine discrepancies and/or similarities between thesets of geologic features corresponding to the different offset stacksand/or angle stacks.

These and other features and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the technology. Asused in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”,“an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to extract geologic informationrelated to a geologic volume of interest by leveraging discrepanciesand/or similarities of corresponding geologic features included in aplurality of offset stacks and/or angle stacks associated with thegeologic volume of interest, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary identification of geologic features, inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for extracting geologic information relatedto a geologic volume of interest by leveraging discrepancies and/orsimilarities of corresponding geologic features included in a pluralityof offset stacks and/or angle stacks associated with the geologic volumeof interest, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for analyzing individual attribute volumesto identify geologic features, in accordance with one or moreembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology may be described and implemented in the generalcontext of a system and computer methods to be executed by a computer.Such computer-executable instructions may include programs, routines,objects, components, data structures, and computer software technologiesthat can be used to perform particular tasks and process abstract datatypes. Software implementations of the present technology may be codedin different languages for application in a variety of computingplatforms and environments. It will be appreciated that the scope andunderlying principles of the present technology are not limited to anyparticular computer software technology.

Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the presenttechnology may be practiced using any one or combination of hardware andsoftware configurations, including but not limited to a system havingsingle and/or multi-processor computer processors system, hand-helddevices, programmable consumer electronics, mini-computers, mainframecomputers, and the like. The technology may also be practiced indistributed computing environments where tasks are performed by serversor other processing devices that are linked through one or more datacommunications networks. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules may be located in both local and remote computer storage mediaincluding memory storage devices.

Also, an article of manufacture for use with a computer processor, suchas a CD, pre-recorded disk or other equivalent devices, may include acomputer program storage medium and program means recorded thereon fordirecting the computer processor to facilitate the implementation andpractice of the present technology. Such devices and articles ofmanufacture also fall within the spirit and scope of the presenttechnology.

Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present technologywill be described. The technology can be implemented in numerous ways,including for example as a system (including a computer processingsystem), a method (including a computer implemented method), anapparatus, a computer readable medium, a computer program product, agraphical user interface, a web portal, or a data structure tangiblyfixed in a computer readable memory. Several embodiments of the presenttechnology are discussed below. The appended drawings illustrate onlytypical embodiments of the present technology and therefore are not tobe considered limiting of its scope and breadth.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured to extract geologicinformation related to a geologic volume of interest by leveragingdiscrepancies and/or similarities of corresponding geologic featuresincluded in a plurality of offset stacks and/or angle stacks associatedwith the geologic volume of interest, in accordance with one or moreembodiments. Exemplary embodiments involve analyzinggeologically-significant images associated with the geologic volume ofinterest to identify discrepancies and/or similarities therebetween.Determining one or more causes of these discrepancies and/orsimilarities can yield insights with respect to lithology prediction,stratigraphic architecture, and/or other aspects of the geologic volumeof interest. By leveraging discrepancies and/or similarities of geologicfeatures identified in the images, interpretations and/or predictionsrelating to lithology, stratigraphy, and/or other aspects of thegeologic volume of interest may be improved relative to conventionalworkflows. For example, some embodiments may utilize an assumption thatcertain geologic features can be imaged better in certain offset domainswhereas other geologic features are not affected by offset. Exemplaryembodiments involve analysis of multiple offset stacks and/or anglestacks rather than a single offset stack or angle stack. Detailsrelating to the lithology and stratigraphy of a given geologic featurethat would not be evident from a single offset stack or angle stack maybe readily identified and explained using multiple offset stacks and/orangle stacks, thus leading to significantly more robust geologicalinterpretations. According to some embodiments, individual ones of theoffset stacks and/or the angle stacks may include processed data,migrated data, unmigrated data, imaged data, and/or raw data. In oneembodiment, the system 100 comprises electronic storage 102, a userinterface 104, one or more information resources 106, one or moreprocessors 108, and/or other components.

In one embodiment, the electronic storage 102 comprises electronicstorage media that electronically stores information. The electronicstorage media of the electronic storage 102 may include system storagethat is provided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with thesystem 100 and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to thesystem 100 via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port,etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). The electronic storage 102may include one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g.,optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g.,magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electricalcharge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-statestorage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronicallyreadable storage media. The electronic storage 102 may store softwarealgorithms, information determined by the processor 108, informationreceived via the user interface 104, information received from theinformation resources 106, and/or other information that enables thesystem 100 to function as described herein. The electronic storage 102may be a separate component within the system 100, or the electronicstorage 102 may be provided integrally with one or more other componentsof the system 100 (e.g., the processor 108).

The user interface 104 is configured to provide an interface between thesystem 100 and a user through which the user may provide information toand receive information from the system 100. This enables data, results,and/or instructions and any other communicable items, collectivelyreferred to as “information,” to be communicated between the user andthe system 100. As used herein, the term “user” may refer to a singleindividual or a group of individuals who may be working in coordination.Examples of interface devices suitable for inclusion in the userinterface 104 include one or more of a keypad, buttons, switches, akeyboard, knobs, levers, a display screen, a touch screen, speakers, amicrophone, an indicator light, an audible alarm, and/or a printer. Inone embodiment, the user interface 104 actually includes a plurality ofseparate interfaces.

It is to be understood that other communication techniques, eitherhard-wired or wireless, are also contemplated by the present technologyas the user interface 104. For example, the present technologycontemplates that the user interface 104 may be integrated with aremovable storage interface provided by the electronic storage 102. Inthis example, information may be loaded into the system 100 fromremovable storage (e.g., a smart card, a flash drive, a removable disk,etc.) that enables the user to customize the implementation of thesystem 100. Other exemplary input devices and techniques adapted for usewith the system 100 as the user interface 104 include, but are notlimited to, an RS-232 port, RF link, an IR link, modem (telephone, cableor other). In short, any technique for communicating information withthe system 100 is contemplated by the present technology as the userinterface 104.

The information resources 106 include one or more sources of informationrelated to the geologic volume of interest. By way of non-limitingexample, one of information resources 106 may include seismic dataacquired at or near the geological volume of interest, informationderived therefrom, and/or information related to the acquisition. Suchseismic data may include source wavefields and receiver wavefields. Theseismic data may include individual traces of seismic data (e.g., thedata recorded on one channel of seismic energy propagating through thegeological volume of interest from a source), offset stacks, anglestacks, azimuth stacks, and/or other data. The information derived fromthe seismic data may include, for example, geologic models from seismicdata representing energy that has propagated through the geologic volumeof interest from one or more energy sources to one or more energyreceivers, image volumes from the geologic model representing geologicfeatures present in the geologic volume of interest, and/or otherinformation. Individual ones of the image volumes may correspond toindividual ones of the offset stacks, angle stacks, azimuth stacks,and/or other information. Information related to the acquisition ofseismic data may include, for example, data related to the positionand/or orientation of a source of seismic energy, the positions and/ororientations of one or more detectors of seismic energy, the time atwhich energy was generated by the source and directed into thegeological volume of interest, and/or other information.

The processor 108 is configured to provide information processingcapabilities in the system 100. As such, the processor 108 may includeone or more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digitalcircuit designed to process information, an analog circuit designed toprocess information, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms forelectronically processing information. Although the processor 108 isshown in FIG. 1 as a single entity, this is for illustrative purposesonly. In some implementations, the processor 108 may include a pluralityof processing units. These processing units may be physically locatedwithin the same device or computing platform, or the processor 108 mayrepresent processing functionality of a plurality of devices operatingin coordination.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the processor 108 may be configured to executeone or more computer program modules. The one or more computer programmodules may include one or more of a communications module 110, an imagevolume module 112, a feature identification module 114, an analysismodule 116, an animation module 118, and/or other modules. The processor108 may be configured to execute modules 110, 112, 114, 116, and/or 118by software; hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware,and/or firmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processingcapabilities on the processor 108.

It should be appreciated that although the modules 110, 112, 114, 116,and 118 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located within a singleprocessing unit, in implementations in which the processor 108 includesmultiple processing units, one or more of the modules 110, 112, 114,116, and/or 118 may be located remotely from the other modules. Thedescription of the functionality provided by the different modules 110,112, 114, 116, and/or 118 described below is for illustrative purposes,and is not intended to be limiting, as any of the modules 110, 112, 114,116, and/or 118 may provide more or less functionality than isdescribed. For example, one or more of the modules 110, 112, 114, 116,and/or 118 may be eliminated, and some or all of its functionality maybe provided by other ones of the modules 110, 112, 114, 116, and/or 118.As another example, the processor 108 may be configured to execute oneor more additional modules that may perform some or all of thefunctionality attributed below to one of the modules 110, 112, 114, 116,and/or 118.

The communications module 110 may be configured to receive information.Such information may be received from the information resources 106, theuser via the user interface 104, the electronic storage 102, and/orother information sources. Examples of received information may includeseismic data, information derived from seismic data, information relatedto the acquisition of seismic data, angle stacks, azimuth stacks, imagevolumes, information related to attributes, and/or other information.

In some embodiments, the communications module 110 may be configured toreceive one or more offset stacks and/or angle stacks. An offset stackor angle stack may represent energy that has propagated through thegeologic volume of interest from one or more energy sources to one ormore energy receivers. An individual energy source may be physicallyseparated from an individual energy receiver by a correspondingsource-receiver offset. Each individual offset stack may be formed froma corresponding set of seismic traces having substantially equivalentsource-receiver offsets. Each individual angle stack may be formed fromcorresponding sets of seismic traces having substantially equivalentsource-receiver angles.

The communications module 110 may be configured to obtain one or moreattribute volumes, according to some embodiments. An attribute volumemay represent one or more attributes associated with the geologic volumeof interest. An individual attribute volume may have been formed fromone or more offset stacks and/or angle stacks. Attribute volumes aredescribed further in connection with the image volume module 112.

The communications module 110, in accordance with some embodiments, maybe configured to receive one or more geologic models. Generallyspeaking, a geologic model may include a conceptual, three-dimensionalconstruction representing various aspects of a geologic volume ofinterest. Geologic models may be used to make predictions and/or compareobservations with assumptions related to the geologic volume ofinterest. Geologic models may be constructed from incomplete data suchthat voids in data are estimated. The geologic model may be derived fromand/or based on seismic data representing energy that has propagatedthrough the geologic volume of interest from one or more energy sourcesto one or more energy receivers. The seismic data may include one ormore of a plurality of offset stacks, a plurality of angle stacks, aplurality of azimuth stacks, and/or other seismic data. The geologicmodel may include geologic features identified therein.

Information received by the communications module 110 may be utilized byone or more of modules 112, 114, 116, and/or 118. Examples of some suchutilizations are described below. The communication module 110 may beconfigured to transmit information to one or more other components ofthe system 100.

The image volume module 112 may be configured to generate and/orotherwise obtain one or more image volumes. In general, image volumesare three-dimensional visual representations of one or more aspects of ageologic model. An individual image volume may correspond to individualoffset stacks; angle stacks; azimuth stacks; transforms of offsetstacks, angle stacks, and/or azimuth stacks (e.g., spectraldecomposition and/or other transforms); and/or other information. Imagevolumes may represent geologic features (described further in connectionwith the feature identification module 114) present in the geologicvolume of interest.

An image volume may include an attribute volume. The attribute volumemay be descriptive of a spatial distribution and/or temporaldistribution within the geologic volume of interest of one or moreattributes. Attributes may include, for example, one or more ofvelocity, coherence, Hilbert transform, amplitude, instantaneousfrequency, spectral decomposition, anisotropy, attenuation, impedance,density, Poisson's ratio, acoustic properties, elastic properties,petrophysical properties, rock properties, fluid properties, reservoirproperties, seismic response, geologic description, lithologicclassification, dip, magnitude, curvature, roughness, dip azimuth,spectral shape, and/or other information attributable to geologicvolumes and/or geologic features. According to some embodiments,generating and/or obtaining the attribute volume may include utilizingone or more of borehole-derived information, seismic data used to obtainthe geologic model, and/or other information.

An attribute volume may be generated and/or obtained based on spatiallyaligned geologically consistent volumes associated with the geologicvolume of interest. An attribute volume may be formed from a pluralityof offset stacks and/or angle stacks that represent energy that haspropagated through the geologic volume of interest from one or moreenergy sources to one or more energy receivers. A plurality of attributevolumes associated with individual source-receiver offsets and/orsource-receiver angles may be determined based on corresponding offsetstacks and/or angle stacks.

The image volume module 112 may be configured to obtain one or moreslices through an image volume. Slices through the image volume may bearranged as a logical sequence of slices. The slices may includecommon-time slices, common-depth slices, common-slope slices,common-vertical slices, common-horizon slices, and/or other slices.Prior to obtaining the slices, according to some embodiments, the imagevolume module 112 may flatten the image volume according to time, depth,slope, vertical, horizon, dip, dip azimuth, an interpreted horizon,and/or other metric.

The image volume module 112 may be configured to generate one or moreoptical stack volumes. An individual optical stack volume may includetwo or more slices. As such, a given optical stack volume may correspondto a thickness range of an attribute volume from which the slices wereobtained. According to some embodiments, slices may be viewed from oneor more directions by a user and may be stacked based on visualinspection by a user to yield optical stack volumes. In someembodiments, slices may be stacked automatically to yield optical stackvolumes. Opacity and/or transparency of one or more slices included inthe given optical stack volume may be adjusted. In some embodiments,opacity and/or transparency criteria associated with individual slicesand/or groups of slices may be based on user input or determinedautomatically. Modifying opacity of individual slices included in thegiven optical stack volume may emphasize one or more geologic featuresincluded in the corresponding thickness range of the attribute volumefrom which the slices were obtained.

The image volume module 112 may be configured to segment an imagevolume. Segmentation may reduce computational costs. Such segmentationmay be performed according to geologic features represented in the imagevolume and/or other subdivision of the image volume. That is, a givensegment may correspond to one or more geologic features, or a givensegment may correspond to some other subdivision of the image volume. Asegment of an image volume may be processed similar to the processing ofimage volumes described herein. For example, the image volume module 112may be configured to obtain one or more slices through a segment of animage volume.

The feature identification module 114 may be configured to identifygeologic features within individual image volumes. Examples of geologicfeatures may include a fluvial channel, delta, deltaic fan, submarinefan, reef, sandbar, point bar, fault, unconformity, dike, sill, saltbody, crevasse splay, reservoir flow unit, fluid contact, turbiditechannel, turbidite sheet, and/or other types of geological features. Insome embodiments, the feature identification module 114 may beconfigured to individually and/or collectively analyze the attributevolumes to identify geologic features within the geologic volume ofinterest represented in the individual attribute volumes. The featureidentification module 114 may be configured to identify, for individualoffset stacks or angle stacks, corresponding sets of geologic featuresrepresented in the attribute volumes determined from the individualoffset stacks or angle stacks. The feature identification module 114 maybe configured to compare corresponding geologic features represented indifferent ones of the individual attribute volumes to determinediscrepancies and/or similarities between the corresponding geologicfeatures. The different ones of the individual attribute volumes maycorrespond to different offset stacks and/or angle stacks.

The feature identification module 114 may be configured to determine aset of geologic features within the geologic volume of interest from theidentified geologic features represented in the individual attributevolumes. According to some embodiments, the feature identificationmodule 114 may be configured to identify geologic features from ananimation associated with the geologic volume of interest. Suchanimations are described further in connection with the animation module118. Determining the set of geologic features within the geologic volumeof interest may be based on the discrepancies and/or similaritiesbetween the corresponding geologic features represented in the differentones of the individual attribute volumes.

As mentioned above, a segment of an image volume may be processedsimilar to the processing of image volumes described herein. Forexample, in embodiments where slices through the image volumes areobtained by the image volume module 112, geologic features may beidentified by the feature identification module 114 on an individualslice basis. In some embodiments, separate geologic features representedin the slices may be identified based on a sequential analysis of theslices. Such a sequential analysis of the slices may include identifyinggeologic features from an animation associated with the geologic volumeof interest (described further in connection with the animation module118). Identifying separate geologic features represented in the slicesmay include identifying features having different rates of movement whenanimated and/or other metrics between slices in the sequence of slices.

The analysis module 116 may be configured to compare sets of geologicfeatures corresponding to the different offset stacks and/or anglestacks. Such a comparison may be performed to determine discrepanciesand/or similarities between the sets of geologic features correspondingto the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks. Discrepancies and/orsimilarities between the sets of geologic features may include, forexample, discrepancies and/or similarities in geologic feature position,geologic feature shape, an attribute of a geologic feature, and/or otherdiscrepancies and/or similarities between the sets of geologic features.

The analysis module 116 may be configured to determine one or morecauses of the determined discrepancies and/or similarities between thesets of geologic features for the different offset stacks and/or anglestacks. Such causes may include, for example, one or more of a tuningeffect of seismic wavelet corresponding to seismic acquisition geometry,a change in a reflection coefficient as a function of impingement angle,a change in reflection coefficient due to non-parallel layering ofinternal thin beds within a geologic feature, and/or other causes ofdiscrepancies and/or similarities between the sets of geologic features.In some embodiments, the feature identification module 114 may byconfigured to determined one or more of stratigraphic and/orgeomorphologic interpretations, stratigraphic and/or geomorphologicpredictions, and/or other interpretations and/or predictions based onone or more of the causes.

The animation module 118 may be configured to generate one or moreanimations associated with the geologic volume of interest. Suchanimations may provide a dynamic approach where patterns are identifiedin a dynamic, rather than static, display. Frames from an exemplaryanimation are described in connection with FIG. 2. In some embodiments,animation(s) may be generated from a sequence of slices obtained fromone or more attribute volumes. The animation module 118 may beconfigured to generate an animation from a plurality of optical stackvolumes such that individual frames include one of the optical stackvolumes. In embodiments where the animation module 118 generates ananimation from optical stack volumes, successive frames may include amoving range of slices. To illustrate, by way of non-limiting example, afirst frame may include slice 1 through slice 5, a second frame mayinclude slice 2 through slice 6, a third frame may include slice 3through slice 7, and so on.

The animation module 118 may operate in conjunction with the featureidentification module 114, in accordance with some embodiments, toidentify separate geologic features represented in the slices based onthe animation and/or a sequential analysis of the slices. In suchembodiments identifying the separate geologic features may includeidentifying features having different rates of movement, identifyingcommon movement between slices for spatially adjacent regions, and/orother metrics between frames of the animation and/or slices in thesequence of slices.

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary identification of geologic features, inaccordance with one or more embodiments. Panels 202, 204, and 206 may beimages or frames extracted from an animation generated by the animationmodule 118. Panels 202, 204, and 206 may each correspond to a slice ofsuccessively greater time. Panels 208, 210, and 212 correspond,respectively, to panels 202, 204, and 206. Dashed lines in panels 208,210, and 212 outline the intersection between corresponding opticalstacks and regional seismic horizons (i.e., “noise”). Solid lines inpanels 208, 210, and 212 correspond to a stratigraphically significantgeologic feature (i.e., a channel fill). Arrows in panels 208, 210, and212 indicate the direction of displacement of regional seismic horizonswith each successive panel. Components of a seismic volume may befiltered out based on consistency criteria derived from the animation.Examples of such components may include seismic reflections, seismicsamples, and/or other components of a seismic volume. Panels 214, 216,and 218 correspond, respectively, to panels 202, 204, and 206 havingregional seismic horizons filtered out. Panels 214, 216, and 218 showstratigraphic features more clearly relative to panels 202, 204, and206.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 for extracting geologic informationrelated to a geologic volume of interest by leveraging discrepanciesand/or similarities of corresponding geologic features included in aplurality of offset stacks and/or angle stacks associated with thegeologic volume of interest, in accordance with one or more embodiments.The operations of the method 300 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some embodiments, the method 300 may be accomplishedwith one or more additional operations not described, and/or without oneor more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in whichthe operations of the method 300 are illustrated in FIG. 3 and describedbelow is not intended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, the method 300 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of the method 300 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of the method 300.

At operation 302, a plurality of offset stacks and/or angle stacks arereceived. The plurality of offset stacks and/or angle stacks maycorrespond to a plurality of offsets associated with a single geologicvolume of interest. In exemplary embodiments, the communications module110 may be executed to perform operation 302.

At operation 304, one or more offset stacks and/or angle stacks areoptionally combined. Operation 304 may be performed through execution ofthe communications module 110, in some embodiments.

At operation 306, a single attribute volume is determined for a singleoffset or a single angle range based on a corresponding offset stack orangle stack. The image volume module 112 may be executed to performoperation 306, in accordance with some embodiments.

At operation 308, a single attribute volume is analyzed to identifygeologic features. In exemplary embodiments, operation 308 may beperformed via execution of the feature identification module 114 and/orone or more other ones of modules 110, 112, 116, and/or 118. One or moreoperations that may be included in operation 308 are described furtherin connection with FIG. 4, in accordance with some embodiments.

In loop 310, operations 306 and/or 308 may be iteratively repeated forone or more different attributes. In some embodiments, operations 306and 308 may be iteratively repeated in loop 310 for all attributes underconsideration.

At operation 312, a set of geologic features are identified for a singleoffset. the feature identification module 114 may be executed, in someembodiments, to perform operation 312.

In loop 314, operations 306, 308, and/or 312 and/or loop 310 may beiteratively repeated for one or more different offsets. In someembodiments, operations 306, 308, and/or 312 and/or loop 310 may beiteratively repeated in loop 314 for all offsets under consideration.

At operation 316, geologic features associated with two or more offsetsand/or angles are compared. Operation 316 may be performed throughexecution of the analysis module 116, according to some embodiments.

At operation 318, causes of discrepancies and/or similarities betweengeologic feature compared at operation 316 are determined. According tovarious embodiments, operation 318 may be performed by way of executionof the analysis module 116.

At operation 320, geologic and/or stratigraphic interpretations and/orpredictions are determined based on one or more causes determined atoperation 318. The analysis module 116 may be executed to performoperation 320, in some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for analyzing individual attributevolumes to identify geologic features, in accordance with one or moreembodiments. One or more operations included in the method 400 maycorrespond to a single operation or multiple operations described inconnection with the method 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. According to someembodiments, one or more operations included in the method 400 maycorrespond to operation 308 of the method 300. The operations of themethod 400 presented below are intended to be illustrative. In someembodiments, the method 400 may be accomplished with one or moreadditional operations not described, and/or without one or more of theoperations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations ofthe method 400 are illustrated in FIG. 4 and described below is notintended to be limiting.

In some embodiments, the method 400 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of the method 400 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of the method 400.

At operation 402, a single attribute volume for a single offset isreceived. According to various embodiments, operation 402 may beperformed by executing the communications module 110 or the image volumemodule 112. In some embodiments, the communications module 110 may beexecuted in conjunction with the image volume module 112 to performoperation 402.

At operation 404, the attributed volume is flattened. Operation 404 maybe performed through execution of the image volume module 112, in someembodiments.

At operation 406, slices are generated from the flattened attributevolume. The image volume module 112 may be executed to perform operation406, in accordance with some embodiments.

At operation 408, an optical stack volume is generated for a singleslice. In some embodiments, operation 408 may be performed by executingthe image volume module 112.

In loop 410, operation 408 may be iteratively repeated for one or moredifferent slices. In some embodiments, operation 408 may be iterativelyrepeated in loop 410 for all slices generated in operation 406.

At operation 412, an animation is generated based on one or more opticalstack volumes. The animation module 118 may be executed to performoperation 412, in some embodiments.

At operation 414, one or more geologic features are identified based onthe animation generated at operation 412. Identified geologic featuresmay be tagged with metadata. According to various embodiments, operation414 may be performed by executing the analysis module 116 or theanimation module 118. In some embodiments, the analysis module 116 maybe executed in conjunction with the animation module 118 to performoperation 414.

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood thatsuch detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is notlimited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intendedto cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to beunderstood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extentpossible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined withone or more features of any other embodiment.

1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing multiple offset stacksand/or angle stacks associated with a geologic volume of interest thatincludes geologic features, the method comprising: receiving a pluralityof offset stacks and/or angle stacks that represent energy that haspropagated through the geologic volume of interest from one or moreenergy sources to one or more energy receivers, an individual energysource being physically separated from an individual energy receiver bya corresponding source-receiver offset, each individual offset stackbeing formed from corresponding sets of seismic traces havingsubstantially equivalent source-receiver offsets, each individual anglestack being formed from corresponding sets of seismic traces havingsubstantially equivalent source-receiver angles; determining a pluralityof attribute volumes associated with individual source-receiver offsetsand/or source-receiver angles based on corresponding offset stacksand/or angle stacks; identifying, for individual offset stacks and/orangle stacks, corresponding sets of geologic features represented in theattribute volumes determined from the individual offset stacks and/orangle stacks; and comparing the sets of geologic features correspondingto the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks to determinediscrepancies and/or similarities between the sets of geologic featurescorresponding to the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising determining one or more causes ofthe determined discrepancies and/or similarities between the sets ofgeologic features for the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks.3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining one or more ofstratigraphic interpretations, geomorphologic interpretations,stratigraphic predictions, or geomorphologic predictions based on thedetermined one or more causes.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein thedetermined discrepancies and/or similarities between the sets ofgeologic features include discrepancies and/or similarities in one ormore of geologic feature position, geologic feature shape, or anattribute of a geologic feature.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein theone or more causes include one or more of a tuning effect of seismicwavelet corresponding to seismic acquisition geometry, a change in areflection coefficient as a function of impingement angle, or a changein reflection coefficient due to non-parallel layering of internal thinbeds within a geologic feature.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein theone or more attributes include one or more of velocity, coherence,Hilbert transform, amplitude, instantaneous frequency, spectraldecomposition, anisotropy, attenuation, impedance, density, Poisson'sratio, acoustic properties, elastic properties, petrophysicalproperties, rock properties, fluid properties, reservoir properties,seismic response, geologic description, lithologic classification, dip,magnitude, curvature, roughness, dip azimuth, or spectral shape.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the geologic features include one or more ofa fluvial channel, delta, deltaic fan, submarine fan, reef, sandbar,point bar, fault, unconformity, dike, sill, salt body, crevasse splay,reservoir flow unit, fluid contact, turbidite channel, or turbiditesheet.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein individual ones of theplurality of offset stacks and/or the plurality of angle stacks includeprocessed data, migrated data, unmigrated data, imaged data, and/or rawdata.
 9. A system configured to analyze multiple offset stacks and/orangle stacks associated with a geologic volume of interest that includesgeologic features, the system comprising: one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program modules, the computer programmodules comprising: a communications module configured to receive aplurality of offset stacks and/or angle stacks that represent energythat has propagated through the geologic volume of interest from one ormore energy sources to one or more energy receivers, an individualenergy source being physically separated from an individual energyreceiver by a corresponding source-receiver offset, each individualoffset stack being formed from corresponding sets of seismic traceshaving substantially equivalent source-receiver offsets, each individualangle stack being formed from corresponding sets of seismic traceshaving substantially equivalent source-receiver angles; an image volumemodule configured to determine a plurality of attribute volumesassociated with individual source-receiver offsets and/orsource-receiver angles based on corresponding offset stacks and/or anglestacks; a feature identification module configured to identify, forindividual offset stacks and/or angle stacks, corresponding sets ofgeologic features represented in the attribute volumes determined fromthe individual offset stacks and/or angle stacks; and an analysis moduleconfigured to compare the sets of geologic features corresponding to thedifferent offset stacks and/or angle stacks to determine discrepanciesand/or similarities between the sets of geologic features correspondingto the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks.
 10. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the analysis module is configured to determine one ormore causes of the determined discrepancies and/or similarities betweenthe sets of geologic features for the different offset stacks and/orangle stacks.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the analysis module isconfigured to determine one or more of stratigraphic interpretations,geomorphologic interpretations, stratigraphic predictions, orgeomorphologic predictions based on the determined one or more causes.12. The system of claim 10, wherein the determined discrepancies and/orsimilarities between the sets of geologic features include discrepanciesand/or similarities in one or more of geologic feature position,geologic feature shape, or an attribute of a geologic feature.
 13. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the one or more causes include one or moreof a tuning effect of seismic wavelet corresponding to seismicacquisition geometry, a change in a reflection coefficient as a functionof impingement angle, or a change in reflection coefficient due tonon-parallel layering of internal thin beds within a geologic feature.14. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more attributes includeone or more of velocity, coherence, Hilbert transform, amplitude,instantaneous frequency, spectral decomposition, anisotropy,attenuation, impedance, density, Poisson's ratio, acoustic properties,elastic properties, petrophysical properties, rock properties, fluidproperties, reservoir properties, seismic response, geologicdescription, lithologic classification, dip, magnitude, curvature,roughness, dip azimuth, or spectral shape.
 15. The system of claim 9,wherein the geologic features include one or more of a fluvial channel,delta, deltaic fan, submarine fan, reef, sandbar, point bar, fault,unconformity, dike, sill, salt body, crevasse splay, reservoir flowunit, fluid contact, turbidite channel, or turbidite sheet.
 16. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein individual ones of the plurality of offsetstacks and/or the plurality of angle stacks include processed data,migrated data, unmigrated data, imaged data, and/or raw data.
 17. Acomputer-readable storage medium having instructions embodied thereon,the instructions being executable by a processor to perform a method foranalyzing multiple offset stacks and/or angle stacks associated with ageologic volume of interest that includes geologic features, the methodcomprising: receiving a plurality of offset stacks and/or angle stacksthat represent energy that has propagated through the geologic volume ofinterest from one or more energy sources to one or more energyreceivers, an individual energy source being physically separated froman individual energy receiver by a corresponding source-receiver offset,each individual offset stack being formed from corresponding sets ofseismic traces having substantially equivalent source-receiver offsets,each individual angle stack being formed from corresponding sets ofseismic traces having substantially equivalent source-receiver angles;determining a plurality of attribute volumes associated with individualsource-receiver offsets and/or source-receiver angles based oncorresponding offset stacks and/or angle stacks; identifying, forindividual offset stacks and/or angle stacks, corresponding sets ofgeologic features represented in the attribute volumes determined fromthe individual offset stacks and/or angle stacks; and comparing the setsof geologic features corresponding to the different offset stacks and/orangle stacks to determine discrepancies and/or similarities between thesets of geologic features corresponding to the different offset stacksand/or angle stacks.
 18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim17, wherein the method further comprises determining one or more causesof the determined discrepancies and/or similarities between the sets ofgeologic features for the different offset stacks and/or angle stacks.19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the methodfurther comprises determining one or more of stratigraphicinterpretations, geomorphologic interpretations, stratigraphicpredictions, or geomorphologic predictions based on the determined oneor more causes.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18,wherein the determined discrepancies and/or similarities between thesets of geologic features include discrepancies and/or similarities inone or more of geologic feature position, geologic feature shape, or anattribute of a geologic feature.
 21. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 18, wherein the one or more causes include one or moreof a tuning effect of seismic wavelet corresponding to seismicacquisition geometry, a change in a reflection coefficient as a functionof impingement angle, or a change in reflection coefficient due tonon-parallel layering of internal thin beds within a geologic feature.22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one ormore attributes include one or more of velocity, coherence, Hilberttransform, amplitude, instantaneous frequency, spectral decomposition,anisotropy, attenuation, impedance, density, Poisson's ratio, acousticproperties, elastic properties, petrophysical properties, rockproperties, fluid properties, reservoir properties, seismic response,geologic description, lithologic classification, dip, magnitude,curvature, roughness, dip azimuth, or spectral shape.
 23. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the geologicfeatures include one or more of a fluvial channel, delta, deltaic fan,submarine fan, reef, sandbar, point bar, fault, unconformity, dike,sill, salt body, crevasse splay, reservoir flow unit, fluid contact,turbidite channel, or turbidite sheet.
 24. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 17, wherein individual ones of the plurality of offsetstacks and/or the plurality of angle stacks include processed data,migrated data, unmigrated data, imaged data, and/or raw data.